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8 THE PRESBYTERS The Eskimo may maintain himself as a race for years to come but it is not likely that his race will increase on the Labrador, for his departure from the life primitive may prove his undoing. Should the Moravians ever find it necessary to give up this work the Eskimo will find in Dr. Grenfell a faithful friend and staunch helper at every time, even as lip IS tltn oiTHr,r ?" ' 1 ? * 1 ? ... ^ ^^. T 111 ci11 <11111 wuiuitn ana cnua tnat is on the Labrador. (irenfell has made the Labrador known to the world and the investment that he is making for that coast has proven a most practical interpretation of the Gospel. If any reader of this article is desirous of making a gift to the Grenfell mission, as Secretary of the Grenfell Association of Washington, 1). C., I shall be pleased to receive and forward the same. Washington, D. C. THE RUGGED WAY. I am bringing my child to the heavenly land; I am leading her day by day, And am asking her now, whilst I hold her hand. To come home by a rugged way. By a way that she never herself would choose, For its beauties she doth not see; And she knows not yet what her soul would lose If she trod not the path with me. Sweet bondage of love! I am willingly led By the hand of the Master divine. I fear not the dangers that round me are spread; I heed not the gathering clouds overhead, For his love and protection are mine. ?Selected. THE SPIRITUAL SIDE OF THE SABBATH QUESTION. By Rev. W. H. M'Master, Ph.D. The present decline from the proper observance of the Sabbath is due in part to wrong views of the Sabbath as an institution. Perverted views of the Sab bath day have led to a perverted practice. The masses are losing sight of it as a holy day to be sanctified to the glory of God. The one element of rest is only a part and the least part of the obligation. To accept the Sabbath and observe it only for rest may be doing no more than is moral?than the animal does when it rests from activity. Rest is a necessity to our frail bodies, and even a moral necessity; but with a view to higher moral obligations. There are two sides to the Sabbath question: One adapted to man's physical need, the other to his spiritual and higher being. The first thought in the analysis of this question is that the Sabbath was founded in infinite wisdom and for the glory of God. This is just as true of any other institution God has founded T-Tic own arloiw ic ? t,?J ? the primary object in all the divine appointments. The same is true of his work of creation and in his work of Providence. God acts in any event first for his own glory, but He glorifies Himself in doing good, in making divine appointments and enacting laws most conducive to good ends. One of these laws is that of the Christian Sabbath. This institution is founded in moral considerations which promote the greatest possible good of man. This ultimate end, or object, can not be attained in any other way except the. Divinely lN OF THE SOUTH. October 27, 1909. appointed way.. No substitute has ever been found for the sanctified Sabbath day nor is likely to be found. Man can not supercede God's appointments. Nothing better can be invented or discovered. God always gives His best of anything. His gifts are never of an inferior order. T1k? inctUi.tmn C.LI..1L I r .1 ' ..uuiuuun *ji mt ihjij' oauuaiii is oi inc mgncst order, founded in infinite wisdom, goodness, for the good of man and the glory of God. The glory of God is the highest motive to action. This is the chief and highest end of human and of spiritual existence. It is to be deplored that the glory of God is not the controlling motive with the masses today. Considerations of interest that center in self, such as pleasure, gain and profit; are supreme with many. Perverted views and perverse motives lead to perverse lives. God is left out of account, the holy Sabbath is desecrated and to many life is wasted and the end is certain ruin. A sanctified Sabbath is most promotive of man's spiritual well-being, and this is the greatest possible good for man. God is glorified by promoting the greatest good of man. All his appointments are adapted to the best interests of men. Man sins against God and against himself when he perverts the divine appointment by desecrating the Christian Sabbath. It is a day to be sanctified, not desecrated. It is sanctified by its own proper observance. The end of its appointment must be kept in view that we may have sanctified motives in its observance. Our highest spiritual wellbeing is most promotive of the glory of God. "This is the will of God, even your sanctification." Our growth in grace is a positive command, a personal obligation. If we are to reach higher attainments in holiness, jve must accept and observe the appointed means of grace most promotive of spirituality. A consistent observance of the Sabbath is an efficient appointed means of grace. It may be said to be central among God's appointments and include all other appointments; because, the observance of many other appointed means of grace will depend upon the proper observance of the Christian Sabbath. This will apply to the regular uniform worship of God and to the observance of the sacraments of his house. If the Sabbath day be desecrated the worship of God will be neglected, the gospel will not be heard, and in place of spiritual growth and gain will be apostacy and spiritual decline. As the conscientious observance of the Christian Sabbath is a sure test, a safe criterion of Christian character ; so on the other hand the desecration of this holy day is depraving and debases man's whole being, even depriving him of physical rest. The Sabbath dissipator has nothing left but penalty, weariness and woe As to the manner of keeping the Sabbath, the best way to rest is not by inaction, indolence, or by sleeping the day away. What is needed is change of conditions. Just such stimulating, refreshing influences as are afforded in the house of God upon mind and soul are most promotive of physical rest. The'Sunday excur sion has just the opposite effect. Dr. Josiah Strong writes, "Among the lower class of operatives in France, Germany and even in England, the effects of Sabbath dissipation very commonly make Monday an idle day. European manufacturers say that American workmen ? y